Gavin Dobson

Gavin Dobson is a London-based oil painter originally from the North East of England. He completed a BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Middlesex University. His work explores themes of identity, sexuality and his own experiences within queer culture. Having aphantasia – the inability to visualise in his mind's eye – many of Gavin's paintings have no fixed starting point. Instead, they are created directly on the canvas, evolving intuitively without a predetermined outcome. This approach creates a tension between the factual and the visual through expressive, layered mark-making.

Rather than capturing visual truths, Gavin's paintings focus on intimacy and the joys, fears and frustrations it can bring. Gavin has exhibited throughout the UK, and his work is held in several private collections. Recent accolades include the Kate Bryan Judges' Award at Canal Contemporary (2025) and the Brookfield Properties Pride Artist of the Year Award (2024).